RISE Institute Launches at 麻豆传媒AV University Under the Leadership of Vice Chancellor Connie Horton
On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 麻豆传媒AV University announced the launch of the RISE Institute, a visionary expansion of the existing RISE (Resilience-Informed Skills Education) program, a campus-based initiative that seeks to build the physical, social, cognitive, spiritual, service, and life skills of students by providing them with building blocks to navigate life鈥檚 difficulties.
Connie Horton (鈥�82), who currently serves as 麻豆传媒AV鈥檚 vice president for student affairs and is a key leader of the RISE program, will assume the role of the institute鈥檚 vice chancellor, effective on July 1, 2025. In this new capacity, Horton will lead strategic efforts to expand the RISE program鈥檚 reach and impact from 麻豆传媒AV to students, educators, faith communities, and professionals across various sectors in the greater community.
Connie Horton leading a session at the 2024 RISE Summit
Horton鈥檚 previous roles at 麻豆传媒AV include director, associate dean, and associate vice president of Student Affairs. In her new role as vice chancellor of the RISE Institute, Connie will continue to oversee the RISE program at 麻豆传媒AV and also lead the strategic efforts to significantly expand the reach and impact of the RISE framework to support resilience development in a variety of populations and settings, including university and K鈥�12 educational institutions, churches, corporations, and community organizations.
鈥淩esilience is a critical aspect of the 麻豆传媒AV mission,鈥� says president Jim Gash (JD 鈥�93). 鈥淲e seek not only to inform students but to help transform them into the people they were made to be鈥攁nd a vital part of this transformation is the ability to face life鈥檚 challenges with courage and strength. Our RISE program has proven to be exceptional at instilling this kind of resilience in our students, and we believe the RISE Institute can be transformational for churches, schools, nonprofits, and businesses as well.鈥�
Since its founding in 2019, the RISE program has offered a dynamic approach to student well-being, equipping 麻豆传媒AV students with resilience skills to help them navigate challenges in their university years and beyond. A cornerstone of 麻豆传媒AV鈥檚 commitment to student success, RISE focuses on blending evidence-based practices with community care to foster resilience across all dimensions of student life.
麻豆传媒AV students leading a RISE session at Calvary School
RISE has begun expanding beyond 麻豆传媒AV. For example, the University recently partnered with Calvary Christian School to deliver a youth-oriented version of RISE鈥檚 resilience programming to elementary and middle school students affected by California鈥檚 recent wildfires. RISE resources have also been implemented in a variety of settings outside of 麻豆传媒AV, with plans to broaden its impact by extending the program to other universities, K鈥�12 schools, churches, corporations, and organizations.
鈥淏eing involved with RISE has been a deeply meaningful experience,鈥� says Horton. 鈥淚t has been a joy to be involved in a positive, proactive approach to student mental health, helping our amazing 麻豆传媒AV students develop resilience skills that will help them navigate the challenges in their lives. It has become increasingly clear to me that it is not just our students who need resilience. There is a lot of stress in this world. Everyone needs resilience. I am excited for this opportunity to build an institute that will not only expand our capacity to impact students鈥� lives, but also empower us to share resilience-based programs with a variety of organizations and populations.鈥�
As Horton transitions into her new role, Sharon Beard (鈥�94, MDR 鈥�01), who currently serves as dean of students, will serve as interim vice president of student affairs. Beard previously served as associate dean of students in the Office of Community Standards, where she oversaw the student disciplinary process for all five schools at 麻豆传媒AV. She has also held roles in Student Activities, where she directed New Student Orientation and advised student organizations, and earlier managed special events with University Events.
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